Prison Life 2

I hadn't planned to write a part two on prison life; then again, I don't plan any of my blogs. I write when, and what, I feel. When I do write and the subject is on prison, I usually find my mind drifting back to a prison cell. Not in a bad way, as I've …

Prison Life

What’s prison like? Is a question you tend to get often if you’ve been to prison, it’s usually followed by, is it the same as it is on the television? Did you meet any murderers? Was another. A lot of the time, it can be incredibly boring, no and its prison, of course I did. …

P.O.E.T.S

As you know P.O.E.T.S stands for piss off early tomorrow is Saturday and I'll admit I was against ending Friday releases for people leaving prison for that very reason. I saw no reason as to why anyone should not be released on a Friday and that it was down to the support services to ensure …

Safe Sharing

It is said that sharing is caring, and rightly so, however, it can also become counter-productive in later life, especially if you want to move on, and most especially if it's your personal story you are sharing. Fortunately, my personal story is also the very thing I use in the very thing it is that …

Mentoring

There are some parts of my history I still don't talk, or write, about, not that they will act as triggers if I ever do. There are some parts I talk, write, about, that still make me feel uncomfortable, better out than in. Then there are some parts of my life I could happily talk, …

Reasons To Be Cheerful – Part Two

In Reasons To Be Cheerful – Part One, which was published yesterday, I had written about my previous day where I co-chaired the RECONNECT launch event alongside Lord Bradley and Kate Davies CBE. Also published yesterday was the Education Committee's report on their inquiry into prison education. I say yesterday, but in fact, the report had …

Reasons To Be Cheerful – Part One

Yesterday, May 17, 2022, and today are two days which not only validate my attitude of #whatcanbe but have also combined and made all my past experiences, negative and positive, worthwhile. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I would never want to live through my negative experiences again, but I don't want …

Pipeline

I may only be one person but I’m not unique. Far from it. As when it comes to the criminal justice system, I share a part of my journey with thousands. As a child and asked the question, what do you want to be, my answer was not to be trapped in the school to …

I Wanna Tell You A Story

As much as I do try and promote a positive image of our criminal justice system; and just like there's the negative aspect of the criminal justice system, one I focus on as well as the positives, my life is also not always positive. So be aware, as what I write could be a trigger …

THE VISIT

May 5, 1997 is a day I will never forget, as it is the day my first son was born. May 5, 2022 is also a day I'll never forget. It was the day I visited HMP Doncaster, as a guest of Teresa Bruce, head of learning and skills. I have served time in several …